The University of Washington in Seattle has been awarded up to $21.1 million out of a total of $150 million distributed to researchers nationwide as part of the Cancer Moonshot initiative led by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. This new round of funding is specifically focused on improving the success of tumor-removal surgeries. The UW, along with Tulane University and Rice University, has been selected to develop new methods for visualizing individual cells on the surface of a tumor post-removal. The ultimate goal is to enable surgeons to determine if all cancer cells have been removed in real-time during surgery without the need for an on-site pathologist.
The award is based on the work of University of Washington Mechanical Engineering Professor Jonathan Liu, whose lab is working on creating faster and more comprehensive methods for removing cancer tumors in a single procedure. The objective is to develop an intraoperative “flatbed scanner” that can quickly and thoroughly image the margin surfaces of surgical specimens within 15 minutes of removal. These images will assist surgeons in confirming whether the entire tumor has been successfully removed and guide them on where to continue resecting if necessary. Collaborators on this project include Alpenglow Biosciences and Harvard Medical School, with major clinical studies being conducted at UW Medicine and Vanderbilt University.
The funding for this initiative is provided by the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), which has already invested over $400 million in the past two years to accelerate advancements in cancer prevention, detection, and treatment. The overall objective of the Cancer Moonshot initiative is to reduce the cancer death rate by at least half by 2047 while enhancing the overall experience for individuals affected by cancer. This latest round of funding is specifically geared towards improving surgical outcomes for cancer patients by enabling surgeons to make more informed decisions in real-time during tumor-removal surgeries.
The development of new visualization techniques for individual cells on tumor surfaces is a critical aspect of enhancing the success of tumor-removal surgeries. By providing surgeons with the ability to quickly assess whether all cancer cells have been removed during surgery, the risk of leaving behind residual cancer cells can be significantly reduced. This real-time feedback loop during surgeries can ultimately lead to more precise and effective removal of tumors, improving patient outcomes and reducing the need for subsequent procedures. The collaboration between universities, research institutions, and clinical partners highlights the importance of interdisciplinary efforts in advancing cancer treatment.
The innovative technologies being developed as part of this research award have the potential to revolutionize tumor-removal surgeries and significantly impact the way cancer is treated in the future. By integrating advanced imaging technologies into the operating room, surgeons will have access to real-time visualization of tumor margins, enabling them to make more accurate and informed decisions during surgeries. This approach not only improves the overall success rate of tumor-removal procedures but also contributes to the broader goal of reducing cancer-related deaths and improving the quality of life for cancer patients. The collaborative nature of this initiative reflects a concerted effort to leverage expertise from various fields to address pressing challenges in cancer treatment.
Overall, the funding provided by the Cancer Moonshot initiative represents a significant investment in advancing cancer research and treatment. By focusing on improving surgical outcomes through the development of innovative visualization technologies, researchers are paving the way for more precise and effective tumor-removal surgeries. The ultimate goal of reducing the cancer death rate by at least half by 2047 underscores the importance of continued efforts to accelerate progress in cancer prevention, detection, and treatment. Through collaborative partnerships and cutting-edge research, the Cancer Moonshot initiative is driving transformative advancements in the fight against cancer and offering hope for a future where cancer is no longer a leading cause of death.
